Part of the Biological Physics Initiative
Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Physics

Teaching


Spring 2012 Biophysics: From Basic Concepts to Current Research (33-767) lecturer: Markus Deserno and Mathias Lösche 12 units, WF 1:30AM—2:50PM DH A200 Biological Physics aims to apply the principles of physics and the methods of mathematical analysis and computer modeling to understand how biological systems work. This course serves as an introduction into this discipline, suitable as a one-semester course for students not necessarily specializing in this area. It will both provide the necessary general concepts, as well as follow some selected topics up to the current frontier of research. Prerequisite: 33-765 or permission of instructor. The course will use the textbook "Physical Biology of the Cell" by Rob Phillips, Jane Kondev, and Julie Theriot, as well as other sources and selected original papers. The course web-page can be found here.

Fall 2011 Physics for future Presidents (33-115) lecturers: Markus Deserno & Gregg Franklin 10 units, MWF 02:—03:20PM, DH 2315 Countless topics of social and political importance are intimately related to science in general and physics in particular. Examples include energy production, global warming, radioactivity, terrorism, and space travel. This course aims to provide key bits of knowledge based on which such issues can be discussed in a meaningful way, i.e., on the level of arguments and not just vague beliefs. We will cover an unusually wide range of topics, including energy, heat, gravity, atoms, radioactivity, chain reactions, electricity, magnetism, waves, light, weather, and climate. No calculus or algebra will be required. The course is open for all students at CMU. The course web-page can be found here.

Spring 2011 Biophysics: From Basic Concepts to Current Research (33-767) lecturer: Markus Deserno 12 units, MWF 1:30AM—2:20PM DH A200 Biological Physics aims to apply the principles of physics and the methods of mathematical analysis and computer modeling to understand how biological systems work. This course serves as an introduction into this discipline, suitable as a one-semester course for students not necessarily specializing in this area. It will both provide the necessary general concepts, as well as follow some selected topics up to the current frontier of research. Prerequisite: 33-765 or permission of instructor. The course will use the textbook "Physical Biology of the Cell" by Rob Phillips, Jane Kondev, and Julie Theriot, as well as other sources and selected original papers.

Fall 2010 Physics for future Presidents (33-115) lecturers: Markus Deserno & Gregg Franklin 10 units, MWF 02:—03:20PM, DH 2315 Countless topics of social and political importance are intimately related to science in general and physics in particular. Examples include energy production, global warming, radioactivity, terrorism, and space travel. This course aims to provide key bits of knowledge based on which such issues can be discussed in a meaningful way, i.e., on the level of arguments and not just vague beliefs. We will cover an unusually wide range of topics, including energy, heat, gravity, atoms, radioactivity, chain reactions, electricity, magnetism, waves, light, weather, and climate. No calculus or algebra will be required. The course is open for all students at CMU.

Spring 2010 Biophysics: From Basic Concepts to Current Research (33-767) lecturer: Markus Deserno 12 units, MWF 1:30AM—2:20PM DH A200 Biological Physics aims to apply the principles of physics and the methods of mathematical analysis and computer modeling to understand how biological systems work. This course serves as an introduction into this discipline, suitable as a one-semester course for students not necessarily specializing in this area. It will both provide the necessary general concepts, as well as follow some selected topics up to the current frontier of research. Prerequisite: 33-765 or permission of instructor. This year I'll try a new textbook: Physical Biology of the Cell by Rob Phillips, Jane Kondev, and Julie Theriot, as well as selected original papers.

Fall 2009 Physics for future Presidents (33-115) lecturers: Markus Deserno & Gregg Franklin 10 units, MWF 02:—03:20PM, DH 2315 Countless topics of social and political importance are intimately related to science in general and physics in particular. Examples include energy production, global warming, radioactivity, terrorism, and space travel. This course aims to provide key bits of knowledge based on which such issues can be discussed in a meaningful way, i.e., on the level of arguments and not just vague beliefs. We will cover an unusually wide range of topics, including energy, heat, gravity, atoms, radioactivity, chain reactions, electricity, magnetism, waves, light, weather, and climate. No calculus or algebra will be required. The course is open for all students at CMU.

Spring 2009 Biophysics: From Basic Concepts to Current Research (33-767) lecturers: Markus Deserno & Maumita Mandal 12 units, MWF 11:30AM—12:20PM MI 448 Biological Physics aims to apply the principles of physics and the methods of mathematical analysis and computer modeling to understand how biological systems work. This course serves as an introduction into this discipline, suitable as a one-semester course for students not necessarily specializing in this area. It will both provide the necessary general concepts, as well as follow some selected topics up to the current frontier of research. Prerequisite: 33-765 or permission of instructor. Typical text: P. Nelson, Biological Physics, as well as selected original papers.

Fall 2008 Physics II for Science Students (33-112) lecturers: Markus Deserno & Kunal Ghosh 12 units, MWF 09:30— 10:20AM, WEH 5403 This is the second semester course that follows 33-111. Electricity and magnetism is developed, including the following topics: Coulomb's law, polarization, electric field, electric potential, DC circuits, magnetic field and force, magnetic induction, and the origins of electromagnetic waves.

Spring 2008 Biophysics: From Basic Concepts to Current Research (33-767) lecturers: Markus Deserno & Mathias Lösche 12 units, TR 2:30PM—4:10PM DH A200 Biological Physics aims to apply the principles of physics and the methods of mathematical analysis and computer modeling to understand how biological systems work. This course serves as an introduction into this discipline, suitable as a one-semester course for students not necessarily specializing in this area. It will both provide the necessary general concepts, as well as follow some selected topics up to the current frontier of research. Prerequisite: 33-765 or permission of instructor. Typical text: P. Nelson, Biological Physics, as well as selected original papers.